The Hershey Bears took on the Bridgeport Islanders on Tuesday at 10:30 am as part of a special "School Day" game.
In front of more than 7,000 screaming kids at Total Mortgage Arena, the Bears fell behind 2-0 in the first period (which is becoming a bad habit) but would leave Connecticut with a 5-4 win thanks to a clutch play by Vincent Iorio with 7.3 seconds remaining.
Tied 4-4, the Capitals' prospect defenseman stopped a failed breakout that rimmed around the boards and sent a shot on net as time quickly ticked away. Iorio's shot clanked off Spencer Smallman, who was set up in front of the net, and past Islanders' goaltender Jakub Skarek with 7.3 seconds remaining.
Smallman's goal would stand up as the game-winner.
Hershey's victory, however, was marred by a sleepy start and came after they trailed for large chunks of the game. During a first period that saw both teams combine for only 12 shots (7 to 5 HBH), Hunter Shepard surrendered two goals -- one to Fredrik Karlström and another to former Bear Brian Pinho.
As the period came to a close, Bears enforcer Brennan Saulnier fought the much larger Wyatt Newgarden. And it may very well have sparked the team. When Hershey came out for the second period, they quickly responded.
Ivan Miroshnichenko scored his seventh goal of the season, 44 seconds into the frame, sending a blistering one-timer from the left circle into the back of the net.
Ethen Frank tied the game three minutes and 22 seconds later with his tenth goal of the season, giving him a share of the league lead in goals. As a Bears power play expired, Frank, from nearly no angle, found paydirt through Skarek's seven-hole.
The Islanders' Julien Gauthier responded with a shorthanded goal to give Bridgeport back the lead temporarily.
But Garrett Roe scored two goals in 47 seconds to put the Bears in front for the first time, 4-3. The tallies were Roe's first and second of the season.
Bridgeport's Marc Gatcomb tied the game 5:40 into the third period, eventually setting up Iorio and Smallman's heroics in the waning seconds.
"It's a tribute to the guys in the room. We have a great room, we have great people, and then they're winners," assistant coach Patrick Wellar said, filling in with Nick Bootland as Todd Nelson is away from the team. "They want to win; there's no nights off. Unfortunately, we didn't get that start today, but just to have that response - we're never out of the fight."
Notes: After assisting on Miro's goal, Mike Vecchione has a four-game point streak (1g, 3a)... Ethan Bear, who assisted on Roe's second goal, has a four-game point streak (1g, 3a)... Pierrick Dubé had his second consecutive two-assist game. Smallman's scored in consecutive games (2g)... Hunter Shepard made his 89th appearance for the Bears, passing Dany Sabourin for sole possession of 23rd in franchise history... Shepard's victory -- his eighth this year and 63rd overall -- ties him with John Henderson for 13th in franchise history.